Brenda rinsed her face, wincing slightly as her hand grazed the bump on her forehead. She held the flashlight up to take a look at the area, squinting against the beam’s glare as it reflected off the mirror. She grimaced as she finally caught sight of the bump, which rose a good half-inch above the rest of her forehead and was an ugly shade of purple. There was a smattering of dried blood around it and with the light of the flashlight she could clearly see the dried blood that trailed down her left cheek.

She grabbed for a washcloth and dampened it, then slowly ran the cloth across the areas of her face and her forehead where the dried blood remained, dabbing gingerly at the knot on her head. Actually, as she touched the area again, she realized that it looked far worse than it felt, and as long as she didn’t touch it, it really didn’t hurt all that much. In fact, up until that very moment she’d nearly forgotten that the bump was even there because her mind had been elsewhere - on one Tom Quinlan…

She could usually get a sense of what a person was about within moments after meeting them, and she’d felt a genuine warmth for and from Tom Quinlan immediately. Yet she’d also sensed that he was being less than honest with her about himself. He claimed that he was merely an out-of-work Aussie lifeguard, newly arrived here in the States just days ago with no job prospects and little money in his pockets; here in this fabulous house, owned by his brother’s employer back in Australia, as a de facto squatter until he could get a job and get on his feet here. Yet, the neatly pressed shirt he’d just handed her to put on was from a well-known - and very expensive - designer who was a favorite of Jagger’s - not something a down-on-his-luck beach bum would likely own.

Of course, she supposed he could have simply splurged to buy this shirt so that he would have something impressive to wear when he went out on job interviews, but for some reason she doubted it. And she also doubted that he’d simply have the designer shirt, which meant that there was likely a very expensive, Italian-made suit hanging in that office closet from which he’d supposedly retrieved the shirt that she was now wearing.

Maybe he simply “borrowed” this shirt from the owner of this place, just as he’s “borrowing” this house for a few days.

She sighed. That was likely it, which meant that he would have another expense in getting it cleaned and pressed and back into that closet before he left here in a few days. The cost of saving her life was certainly mounting for him, wasn’t it?

And she was being less than gracious by doubting his story, as she was. So what if her instincts were telling her that he wasn’t being completely truthful with her about who he was and what he was doing here in this place? She should just be glad that he was here, otherwise she wouldn’t even be alive now, would she?

He owed her nothing, whereas she owed him her life. And Ruby had always taught her that one repaid kindness with kindness and gratitude, not with suspicion and wariness. Besides, whether or not this man was hiding who he was and what his real story was, his eyes were kind and honest and she somehow knew in her heart that she could trust him. And, in the end, that was all that really mattered, wasn’t it?

Jax tried to keep his mind on the final preparations for the upcoming GenCorp takeover as he loaded a serving tray with the assortment of fruit and cheeses he’d found in the refrigerator, but his thoughts kept wandering to the woman in the other room - and that incredible dream he’d had about the two of them together. It seemed that no matter how he tried to banish that dream from his head, it always seemed to seep back in to overtake all the other thoughts in his head.

He’d even tried counting backwards from 100 by 7’s, a trick his father had taught him as a child to help clear his mind and improve his concentration, but that had backfired bigtime on him, as he’d barely made it to 79 when he began visualizing her repeating the numbers for him; her full, luscious lips moving sensuously and her tongue gliding slowly across her even, white teeth as she mouthed each new number, and it had so unnerved him that he’d completely lost count by 58 and he’d needed to down an entire bottle of cold water to douse the fire building inside him.

What was it about this woman that made him feel this way? Was it simply that dream he’d had that had heightened his feelings for her or was it more? ... Was it simply her? Was she really the love he’d hoped for, prayed for, dreamed of all of his adult life? Had fate brought them together and was his dream meant to show him what their future together could hold, if he would just trust and believe and let his heart lead him?

Oh, bloody hell! the voice in his head reprimanded again. Forget the damn dream and forget the damn woman! You’re just tired and hungry and stressed to the limit. That’s what has your system all in an uproar, not some woman you barely know who was accidentally thrust into your life tonight. Feed her and then get her out of here ASAP, so that you can get some rest and get back to normal!

Of course, the voice was right. It had to be. No one in their right mind really believed in fate or love at first sight. That was it. He simply was not in his right mind now. He was too hungry and too tired and too stressed to think clearly, which is why she seemed to be seeping into his every thought. Once his stomach was full and he’d gotten more sleep - and she was out of his house - then he’d be able to think clearly again.

And until she was gone, he’d simply keep his distance from her as much as possible. And in a place this size, that certainly shouldn’t be too difficult! They could share the food he’d gotten them, then he’d leave her in the living room and he’d go back to his office, where he could use his laptop to concentrate on business and forget about her until the storm was over, then he’d call a cab for her and she’d be gone for good.

Yep, that’s the plan, he nodded, as he deftly balanced the tray with its assortment of fruits and cheeses and crackers in his left hand while grabbing for the chilled bottles of water and the flashlight with his right, then confidently headed back into the living room, completely unprepared for what curves fate - and Brenda Cates - would throw at him next.

When Jax returned to the living room with the food, he found that the entire area had been transformed into a sea of flickering lights with lighted candles everywhere, and Brenda, dressed only in his new pale blue dress shirt and white running socks, standing in the midst of the glow, looking absolutely ethereal. He was certain that the phrase “Earth Angel” had been coined for her and her alone.

“I hope you don’t mind that I lit a few candles,” she apologized, as Jax simply stood there, speechless and staring at her. “I mean, I know that you’re trying to leave this place as untouched as possible - and I promise I’ll clean up any dripped wax and replace every single candle I’ve lit - but I thought the added light might make it easier to navigate in here - I mean, since neither of us is familiar with the layout of the place.”

God, could she be any more beautiful? Jax wondered, as he continued to simply stare at her, his mouth agape.

Brenda mistook his awestruck look for disapproval. “Ummm…” she stuttered, chewing her bottom lip as she realized she really should have asked his permission first. “I really am sorry,” she apologized, as she moved to blow out the candles on the mantle.

“No, don’t!” Jax exclaimed, realizing that she’d mistaken his awed silence for disapproval.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asked, studying his face, which, for some reason, seemed to hold a deer-in-the-headlights expression as he stared at her. Funny, she thought, he almost looks like he’s afraid of me…He probably is - he probably thinks the place will burn down, given the string of bad luck I seem to have brought him.

Breathe, man! he told himself, as he was finally cognizant of the fact that he’d been holding his breath and simply staring at her for the past several seconds. She probably thinks you’re crazy! “N-no, it’s great! I mean that!” Jax stuttered, as he willed the blood that had suddenly pooled in the lower part of his body to make it back to his oxygen-deprived brain pronto. He hoped that it was still too dark in here for her to notice his painfully obvious state of arousal. “I should have thought to do that in the first place. It really is better than fumbling around in the dark with a flashlight,” he laughed nervously, setting the tray and the drinks down on a nearby table, then shutting off the flashlight and tossing it onto one of the sofas, as he quickly ducked behind the sofa furthest from Brenda.

“Are you sure this is okay with you?” she asked, still wondering why he seemed to be acting so strangely.

“Yeah, it gives the room a certain ambience,” he answered, as he stooped down and felt around the floor for the T-shirt he’d dropped there when he’d gone out to surf earlier. He needed that shirt now because it was fairly long and would cover enough of his anatomy that he could at least come out from behind the sofa without embarrassment.

“Well, I wasn’t really going for ambience; just light. I’ve never been a fan of storms or being stuck in the dark,” Brenda explained, as she watched him suddenly drop to the floor behind the sofa. “Ummm… are you okay?” she asked, as she knelt on the sofa and peered down at him curiously. “Did you lose something?”

“N-no… actually, I found something - my shirt… See!” he practically shouted, as he waved the T-shirt at her, then quickly slid it over his head and down over his chest and groin area before standing back up. “I-I was getting a little chilly,” he added quickly, willing himself to look anywhere but at her face, which was just inches from his at the moment. God, why am I acting like an imbecile? he wondered, hoping she hadn’t seen anything before he’d gotten the shirt on.

She hadn’t.

“You’re cold? … Here, this is really warm,” she said, as she jumped off the sofa and grabbed for one of the cashmere throws, offering it to him. When he shook his head, declining her offer, she continued to press. “Okay… well, at least stand over by the fire for a few minutes to warm yourself,” she suggested.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Jax agreed, as he practically leapt over to the fireplace, quickly turning his back to Brenda as he faced the warmth of the fire. Now, he just needed to think of things that would turn him off as quickly as the sight of her had just turned him on…

Think profit margins and quarterly statements; think stock options and three-for-one stock splits, he told himself. Don’t think about her shapely legs or the way this light makes her look even more beautiful than before… And don’t think about how easy it would be to lose yourself in her beautiful brown eyes or to kiss those luscious lips of hers…Or about the beautiful children the two of you would have together…

Stop it, man! he scolded himself. This is ridiculous! First, the dream and now, this! … He took a deep breath and willed himself to concentrate, as he slowly began to count: 100… 93… 86 … 79… 72… 65… 58… 51… 44…37… 30…23…16…9…2… He exhaled slowly and smiled. Thankfully, his father’s trick had worked this time. He slowly turned around to find Brenda eyeing him curiously.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked, genuine concern in her voice. “You were out in the storm just like I was. You might be coming down with a cold - or worse… I mean, your chills might be a symptom of something…”

Yeah, they’re a symptom of something, all right - of my attraction to you, Jax thought, but aloud he said: “No, I’m fine - really. I had a wetsuit on, remember? It kept me insulated from the wet and the cold, so I’m none the worse for wear, as far as being out in the elements are concerned… I just got a little cold rummaging in the refrigerator shirtless, that’s all,” he added, once again smiling nervously, as he tried to look anywhere but directly at her.

She regarded him for several seconds, as he seemed to be purposely avoiding looking at her. She knew that the bump on her head was far from attractive, but he evidently found her and it hideous-looking. Maybe that’s why he reacted the way he did to the candles, she thought. More light meant he could see her better, which was something he evidently didn’t like in the least. Well, she could take care of that little problem easily enough.

“You know, we really don’t need all these candles…” she said, as she once again moved to begin blowing out the candles on the mantle.

“Please, don’t do that!” he admonished, quickly stepping between her and the candles. Unfortunately, that move on his part brought her lips, which were pursed to blow out the candles behind him, perilously close to his own lips, and he could feel the blood once again rushing from his brain as he automatically licked his lips, as if in anticipation of what should inevitably come next.

What the hell are you doing?! the voice inside his head demanded angrily. You’re supposed to be keeping your distance from her, not setting up opportunities to steal kisses from her!

Surprised by his outburst and the awkward position they were suddenly in, Brenda stepped back away from him. What is with this guy? she wondered, but aloud she apologized: “I’m sorry… I seem to be doing all the wrong things here…”

That instantly threw cold water on Jax’s urges, as he realized that his inability to control his feelings had made it look to her like he was upset with her. And that was the furthest thing from the truth. “No, you’re not doing anything wrong…” he apologized. “I’m… I’m just a little on edge tonight, that’s all - you know, with my jet lag and the storm and… and all…”

She raised an eyebrow as she studied his face again. “The ‘and all’ being me and the fact that I’ve thoroughly disrupted your life tonight…” she finished for him, when he seemed to be at a loss for words.

“No, it’s not you at all…” Jax quickly replied. “In fact, I was going stir-crazy here by myself,” he smiled. “You’re actually a very welcome distraction,” he added softly, his heart nearly melting as a small smile played across her face then.

“And you’re actually a very smooth liar,” she declared, as she settled to the floor, grabbing a grape off the tray on the coffee table and popping it into her mouth.

Jax’s radar went up at that. Had she figured out that his whole story about himself had been a lie? “What do you mean by that?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously as he settled onto the floor beside her.

She didn’t notice his scrutiny, as she was busy taking more grapes and a napkin off the tray. “I mean that I’ve been like a bad luck charm for you ever since I dropped into your life, yet you’re trying to act as if nothing has happened… You said yourself that you were allowed to use this place on the condition that you leave it as you found it, and that meant nothing damaged and nothing broken. But just since I’ve arrived, you now have two water-stained sofas in here, and somewhere back there - ” She nodded her head toward the office. “ - there’s a pile of rubble that was once an expensive piece of artwork. And, on top of that, you hit your head while getting this shirt for me to wear.” She looked down at the shirt she was wearing. “And I’m betting that you borrowed this from the owner’s closet, which probably won’t sit well with him.”

“What makes you say that?” Jax prodded, a slight edge to his voice.

“Well, for one thing it’s a designer label - and a very expensive one at that,” she continued, between grapes. “And since you indicated that your finances were limited, I can’t imagine you spending that kind of money on a shirt, so it makes sense that you ‘borrowed’ it from your brother’s boss’s closet. I appreciate the gesture, but it will need to be cleaned once I take it off, which is not cheap here in Malibu. Add that to the cost of having the sofa cushions cleaned and the artwork replaced… All in all, my unexpected appearance in your life is costing you a small fortune, which definitely cuts into your pizza fund,” she smiled, her eyes twinkling.

Jax immediately relaxed, as he realized that she still had no idea who he was or what he really did for a living and that she was simply making a joke at her own expense. After all that she had been through in the past few hours, she could still laugh. She was truly an amazing woman…

“Well, I don’t mind sacrificing a few pizzas for such a worthy cause,” he smiled, as he grabbed a handful of grapes off the tray and popped several into his mouth. “As a matter of fact, I did borrow that shirt from my brother’s boss’s closet,” he grinned, as he realized that this technically wasn’t a lie - he liked to think of himself as his brother’s boss, although, Jerry would likely argue that point. “By the way, has anyone ever told you that you’re very astute?”

“Well, being observant pays in my line of work,” she answered, as she suddenly grew quiet and simply stared into the fire.

Jax watched her smile quickly fade as she stared pensively into the flames. What brought about that change? he wondered. “Advertising - you write copy for an ad agency, right?” he finally said, after several long moments of silence had passed between them.

“Yeah, right...” she replied quietly, her eyes dropping from the flames to her lap and then up to meet his. “Actually, it’s been a few years since I simply wrote copy. I’ve been a partner in the company for the past several years… but … I’ve been on a leave of absence for the past few months,” she added, quickly averting her eyes from Jax’s and back to the flames.

Jax noticed the sudden hint of tears in the corners of her eyes then and realized that whatever had caused her to take a leave of absence was still painful for her. Did it have something to do with her impending divorce? She said she was a partner in the company. Perhaps she and her husband had been in business together and when their marriage hit the skids, she took some time off to sort things out.

Don’t get sucked in here, the voice in his head warned. It’s none of your business. The less you know about her, the better.

Jax sighed. Of course, his inner voice was right. He needed to stay distant and dispassionate with this woman, which meant he didn’t need to know any details of her life. Keep the conversation light and impersonal, the voice in his head instructed. Better yet, don’t talk at all. Good advice, he decided, as he popped several more grapes into his mouth and simply stared into the flames with her.

A particularly loud clap of thunder rumbled outside then and she jumped slightly, automatically clutching at his leg as she did so. “Sorry,” she apologized, quickly removing her hand from its perch on his left thigh. “Not a big fan of thunderstorms,” she explained, giving a small laugh to cover her embarrassment at what she had just done.

Jax smiled, realizing that he had not minded in the least where her hand had been for those few seconds. In fact, he wouldn’t mind if she slipped it back there right now and let it slip just a little bit higher…

Stop it! the voice in his head demanded. Okay, talk to her! Mindless small talk will at least keep that damn dream out of your head!

“So, you don’t like thunderstorms, huh?” Jax asked, trying to once again force erotic images from his mind as he focused on the storm outside.

“Not particularly,” Brenda shrugged. “I don’t get all worked up and hyperventilate or anything like some people - I knew this one girl back in college who had to take tranquilizers whenever there was even the slightest rumble of thunder,” she explained. “I just could do without the extreme light and sound show of storms like this one.”

“I love storms,” Jax replied, as he grabbed a bottled water and took a long drink.

“Even storms like this one?” she asked, as she took a drink of her water, too.

“Especially storms like this one,” he grinned, thinking back fondly to the spectacular storms he’d witnessed in his childhood in the outback.

“Interesting…” Brenda murmured, cocking her head to one side as she gazed at him appraisingly. “But it fits.”

“What fits?” Jax asked, wondering what she meant by that remark and by the way she was looking at him now.

“Your love of storms,” she replied, smiling. “It fits your lifestyle and your attitude.”

“My lifestyle and my attitude?” he asked, once again worried that she might realize that he was not who he was pretending to be.

“Yeah - you know, being a lifeguard and having to deal with life-and-death situations as a matter of routine,” she replied, as she scanned the tray of fruit, then picked up several more grapes and a couple of large strawberries.

“Oh, that,” Jax smiled, visibly relaxing as he realized that she wasn’t questioning his story; she was simply making conversation. “Well, I haven’t worked as a lifeguard in quite a while,” he found himself answering without thinking.

You idiot! What are you doing? The voice in his head was mortified by his candor.

“I’ve… I’ve actually had a lot of different jobs - odd jobs - since then to make ends meet - and to save money for this trip to the States, of course” he added quickly, hoping that she hadn’t noticed the near panic in his voice as he tried to cover his tracks.

She hadn’t. “Well, that just further proves my point,” she replied, popping another grape into her mouth.

“Which is?” he asked, still uncertain as to where all of this was leading.

“That you’re very self-confident and a risk-taker in your life choices, whether it’s working as a lifeguard or working a series of jobs to earn money to come halfway around the world to a foreign country to find work and with only a temporary place to stay. Very gutsy on your part. So it stands to reason that you would be someone who loves the dangerous feel of a storm.” She cocked her head again as she leaned in closer to him, studying his face and his eyes more closely. “And I bet that you live your life as it comes, taking the good with the bad, but always living life to the fullest… Am I right?”

Jax was taken aback by her uncannily accurate assessment of his character. “As I said, very astute… And you know this simply by looking at me?” he grinned, cocking his head in perfect imitation of her. “What are you - a witch or something?”

“Possibly,” she smiled, then crinkled up her nose as she added: “I certainly look the part, don’t I? With my frizzy hair and this huge bump on my head. No wonder you didn’t want all these candles burning. The more light there is, the harder it is to ignore how awful I look!” she laughed, self-consciously pulling her hair down to hide her forehead as she turned away from him again to look back into the fire.

Jax couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Did she actually think he thought she was unattractive? God, if she only knew what he’d been thinking about her all evening. Without thinking, he reached out and tipped her chin up so that she was once again looking at him, then he gently pushed her hair behind her ear and away from her face, exposing her forehead and the bump once again. The feel of her skin against his made his heart skip a beat. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, “even with that little bump.”

He watched as her mouth dropped open slightly at his touch. Had she felt it, too? That spark between them? She had to have felt it - it was too strong to ignore; like a current of electricity flowing between them. But she remained silent, simply staring at him, her lips still slightly parted.

What are you doing?! the voice in his head exploded. You were supposed to keep this to the level of impersonal small talk! And touching was definitely not in the game plan!

Jax immediately dropped his hand from her face. “I… I shouldn’t have done that…” he apologized, realizing that he had no right to touch her like that, as they were little more than strangers to one another. Yet the connection he felt to her seemed to be growing stronger by the minute. He needed to put some physical distance between them immediately or soon simply touching her face wouldn’t be enough for him.

He jumped up suddenly, nearly knocking the tray of fruit from its perch on the nearby coffee table. “I… I have to… ummm… call my brother…” he lied, as he set the tray back on the table. “He’s probably heard about the storm and is wondering how I’m holding up… and the house, too… ummm… since it’s his boss’s place and all…” he stuttered, his words coming out in a rush, as he needed to get away from her quickly or risk making an even bigger fool of himself by staying and kissing her. He didn’t wait for her to reply, simply racing back to the sanctuary of his office hideaway as fast as humanly possible.

Confused by what had just transpired over the past couple of minutes, Brenda watched as he disappeared into the darkness. She wasn’t sure what to think of this man. He had no qualms about going halfway around the world with little more than pocket change or braving the monster waves of the Pacific this afternoon or even risking his life in the midst of this fierce storm to save hers, yet he seemed almost frightened of her at times - and this was definitely one of those times.

Yet, just seconds before, he hadn’t seemed frightened of her in the least. In fact, he’d seemed very comfortable with her. And he’d been so sweet to try to reassure her that she was attractive, despite how she knew she really looked… And the way he’d touched her… She put her hand to her face and closed her eyes, savoring the memory of the incredible sensation that his touch had sent though her. What exactly had that been?

It was your imagination; nothing more, her head told her, as she opened her eyes and sighed. Or possibly it was simply static electricity. That had to be it, she decided. After all, the air outside was charged with electricity, with all the lightening; it stands to reason that the air inside was also highly charged.

It is - with sexual energy…

She nearly laughed out loud at that. Where had that thought come from? It had been years since she’d even looked at any man, other than Jagger, in that way, and over the past year her sexual desire for even him had waned almost to the point of nonexistence, as work and then her unplanned pregnancy had taken all of her energies and her focus. Then, after she’d lost the baby, her grief and her guilt had been so deep that sexual desire had been the furthest thing from her mind. In fact, it hadn’t even entered her mind again until just now - and with a virtual stranger, no less!

Why was that, she wondered?

Because you’ve been through a harrowing ordeal tonight, her head told her. You came perilously close to dying and he’s the man who saved your life. It makes sense to feel a connection to the man, but it’s nothing beyond gratitude. Besides, you’re at a very vulnerable place, having just lost your marriage and nearly lost your life. You feel rejected by Jagger, which is why the attentions of this man feel so seductive. He called you beautiful at a time in your life when you’ve felt anything but that, even before that bump on your head. It was a fleeting sensation… an aberration of the moment… nothing more…

Of course it was nothing more than that. It couldn’t be more than that. Tom Quinlan was still a stranger to her, and he was simply being kind to her. She was reading far more into that momentary whatever it was that had passed between them - if, indeed, it was anything at all, beyond fatigue and her own vivid imagination. That was likely it. Her mind playing tricks on her. End of story.

Several bolts of lightening streaked across the sky then, lighting the room as brightly as a room full of fluorescent bulbs, followed immediately by a clap of thunder that shook the entire house. Brenda let out a small shriek, then drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them. She had confessed to Tom that she didn’t particularly like thunderstorms, but she had neglected to add that she especially didn’t like to go through them by herself. “Tom, please come back,” she whispered under her breath.

As if by magic, he was suddenly back by her side. “Hey, it’s okay,” he soothed, as he grabbed the cashmere throw from off the sofa and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“Easy for you to say. You like storms.” She forced a smile, as she gazed up at him, grateful that he had chosen now to return.

“True,” he nodded, as he settled onto the floor next to her, “but I thought you said you didn’t get all worked up about them. Yet, here I find you curled up like a ball at a little rumble of thunder.” He winked at her and she smiled back, relaxing a bit now that she was no longer alone.

“You call that a little rumble?” she challenged.

“I do - in fact, a storm like this would barely even rate being called a storm in the outback,” he bragged, smiling as he watched her visibly relax as he talked. “Maybe rate a measly 1, possibly a 1-1/2, on a scale of 1 to 10.”

“Oh, really?” she smiled, realizing that he was teasing her now. “And on this outback scale of storm rating of yours, what would qualify as a 10?”

“Well-llll…” he drawled, wrinkling his brow as he pretended to wrack his brain for this particular memory, “… there’s really only been one storm in recorded history that actually made it to the 10 rating on the outback scale - and it was well before my time, mind you - but I’ve heard the stories about it as I was growing up and they say that this storm was so bad that this guy, Noah, was compelled to build this boat, and -”

She burst out laughing at that.

“Hey, so you’ve heard about it, huh?” he grinned, loving the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. How could a woman this beautiful ever think herself unattractive?

“Yeah, I’ve heard about that particular storm. It was in the news everywhere, don’t you know?” she laughed, then sobered slightly as she added: “Thanks for coming back when you did.”

“Well, I shouldn’t have left you alone like that in the first place,” he apologized, his voice suddenly soft. “And I apologize again for…”

“… For telling me I’m beautiful? Are you trying to take that back now?” she asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

“No, of course not. You are beautiful - astonishingly so, considering the night you’ve had,” he replied, his heart skipping a beat again as he looked into her eyes. “I… I just should never have touched you like that…”

“I didn’t mind in the least,” she answered softly. Then, realizing that perhaps that sounded a little too forward, she added: “Hey, you were just trying to prove your point and you had to move my hair to do that. Actually, I really appreciated what you said, even if you only said it to make me feel better - Which it did, by the way.”

“I never say anything I don’t mean,” he replied, leaning in slightly as he spoke. He could feel his heart suddenly racing out of control. They weren’t even touching now, but he could feel the sexual energy passing between them and he knew that if he didn’t put a stop to it now there would be no turning back. He straightened away from her then, as he added: “Besides, you probably hear all the time how beautiful you are.”

She understood that he, too, could feel something between them and he was trying to stop it before they went too far. She appreciated that because, no matter how attracted she was to him at this moment and how wonderful it might feel to be loved by him, she knew they would both likely regret it after the fact. She was never one who believed in one-night stands or indiscriminate sex and she wasn’t about to abandon her beliefs so easily now. Besides, she was still a married woman, despite the fact that Jagger had asked for a separation, and until she had talked to her own lawyer about a divorce and papers were filed, she was still legally and morally tied to Jagger.

She stood then, keeping the throw wrapped around her as she suddenly felt terribly underdressed. “It’s been quite a while since anyone has called me beautiful,” she replied wistfully, as she moved to sit on one of the sofas. “In fact, I can’t even remember the last time…”

“Then your husband must be either blind or a complete jerk,” Jax replied, angry that her husband could so completely take for granted how lucky he was to be married to such a beautiful woman.

That made her laugh, as she sarcastically replied: “So, I take it you’ve met him…”

“Too many men like him,” he answered flippantly, as he stood and leaned with his back against the mantle of the fireplace.

“So, Tom Quinlan, do you make it a point to tell your wife often how beautiful she is?” she asked, her eyebrows raised, as she wondered if he practiced what he preached; a part of her secretly hoping that he wasn’t married at all.

“Well, I’m not married, but if I ever do get married and she’s as beautiful and charming as you are, then I will tell her every chance that I get how beautiful she is and how lucky I am to have found her…” I’ve found her already; I’m looking at her now, his racing heart sang.

There was a period of silence then as they simply stared at one another. “She’ll be a lucky woman, indeed…” Brenda finally replied, her voice catching in her throat as she realized how much she envied that woman, whoever she would turn out to be.

Snap out of it! the voice in Jax’s head demanded. She’s still a married woman, and you’re a man who needs to get back to concentrating on business. Stop staring at her like you’re a starving man and she’s a piece of prime rib you can’t wait to devour!

“Yeah, well… Getting married is not something I see in my immediate future,” Jax said, as he straightened up and turned around to face the fire. The voice in his head was right. It was pointless, as well as downright painful, to torture himself with longing looks and thinly veiled innuendo when he knew that nothing could come of this. It would be better for both of them to get the conversation back on a less intimate track. “I mean, I just arrived here and all. Dating is not a priority at the moment, since I’m trying to stretch my money,” he added, getting back into his Tom Quinlan persona and the hard luck story he had told her about himself.

“You’ve got a point,” she laughed nervously, strangely both relieved and bothered that he was steering their conversation into a far less dangerous direction now. “Getting some money is probably your first priority, which means a job… Ummm… What is your field? I mean, did you want to get a job as a lifeguard… or… or what?” she asked, remembering that he had said that he hadn’t worked as a lifeguard for awhile.

“Ummm… anything would be good at this point,” he shrugged, in character. “But I do have a business degree from the University of Sydney.” That was the truth. In fact, he had his MBA in business law and accounting. Even as a boy, he’d always had a head for numbers, so his father had steered him into accounting in college. Business law had seemed a natural adjunct, since his father had always planned for him and Jerry to take over the business. Unfortunately, their parents’ untimely deaths forced them to take it over far sooner than they would have liked.

“Wow! That’s great! … But the business climate here in California is really soft right now - In fact, the business climate in the whole country is pretty bleak. And, although no one seems to want to actually call it a recession, I think we’re in a recession - and have been for nearly a year, if the slowdown at our agency is any indication…” She stood, dropping the blanket onto the sofa, and began pacing between the sofa and the coffee table, continuing to talk animatedly as she walked.

Jax couldn’t help but smile as he listened to her speak so easily and knowledgeably about the business climate of the country. It was rare to meet a woman of such beauty who had a head for business, too. Of course, there might be lots of women out there who were both beautiful and business-savvy, but Jax had never run into too many of them and if he had, they’d certainly never peaked his interest as this woman had. Otherwise, he would certainly have remembered them. But this woman… she was unforgettable.

Unforgettable? What the hell are you thinking here? the voice in his head demanded. If you tell yourself she’s unforgettable, then you bloody well will remember her, whether you really want to or not! Why are you so fixated on this woman? Is it because of that dream again? Forget the dream; forget the woman. Get your priorities in order- You screw up the GenCorp deal and it’s not just another blown deal; it’s the end of JI completely.

He sighed. He was once again chasing a fantasy with this woman that had no basis whatsoever in reality. Sure, they had shared a couple of steamy glances and there was definitely a sexual vibration between them, but he was crazy to think that anything of lasting consequence could come of this for them. And, as tasty as she would likely be in bed, he had no desire for a one-night stand, which is what this would have to be for them. Besides, she was still a married woman - granted, she was on the verge of divorce, but she was still legally married to her husband at the moment, and he drew the line at sleeping with a married woman. So his infatuation and fascination with her was irrational, and Jax had never been one to pursue anything that didn’t make sense.

He watched as she continued to pace and talk, her hands waving wildly around as she emphasized her points: “… Of course, there are always plenty of other jobs here for someone who looks like you - if you’re interested in that sort of thing, that is…” She stopped and looked at him expectantly.

“Oh, is it my turn to talk now?” he grinned, playfully poking fun at her sudden nonstop chatter.

She gave an embarrassed laugh. “Ummm… sorry about that. I have a tendency to get a little animated when I get nervous or when I get overly tired. Guess I’m a bit of both tonight,” she added softly, running her fingers nervously through her hair.

“Yeah, well… it’s been a busy night…” he replied, unable to keep the wistfulness out of his tone. “Ummm… so, what are these other jobs that someone who ‘looks like me’ might be interested in?” he asked, his tone once again upbeat and teasing.

“Well… keep in mind that I’m not suggesting this as a lifelong career choice or anything - just a way to make some good money in a relatively short period of time…” she hedged, unsure whether he would be flattered or insulted by what she was about to suggest.

He started laughing then. “You aren’t suggesting that I sell my body, are you?”

“In a way, yes…” Brenda replied, which made him stop laughing immediately. “I was just thinking that you could possibly find work as a model.”

He started laughing again at that suggestion. “Me? A model? I don’t think so!” He could just hear Jerry’s guffaws at that one. Neither of them had ever had a very high opinion of the models they’d met at various charity and social events, and Jerry would never let him live it down if he even knew that someone had suggested that field - even temporarily -for him.

“Well, it was just a suggestion -” she shrugged, as she began pacing again, this time in front of the fireplace where he stood. “And it is a field in which I have a few connections, so I could hook you up with a good photographer for head shots for your portfolio and a good agent who would protect your interests. Of course, you’re a little older than the average newbie in the field, but male models generally have a much longer career span than female models since we seem to live in a culture that can tolerate and even celebrate its men getting older, but wants its women to remain eternally young. In fact, thirtyish for a male model is ideal for most business advertising, so you could probably find plenty of good-paying jobs in no time.”

He reached out to stop her frenetic pacing. “Hey, why do you feel it’s your job to find me a job?” he asked, bewildered by her sudden obsession with his “lack of finances.”

“Because I owe you…” she replied softly. “I owe you my life. And I know that there’s no way that I can fully repay you for saving me and taking care of me as you have, but I’d at least like to try… And I don’t have a lot of money - and what I do have is mostly tied up in the business and our townhouse and stocks and bonds, all of which I own jointly with my soon-to-be-ex-husband, so it will likely be tied up for months to come - but I do have a vast network of connections and I’d like to tap them to help you.”

God, she was making it so hard to distance himself from her emotionally when she kept reeling him in closer and closer like this. Every time she opened her mouth, something else came out that endeared her to him more. Why couldn’t she simply be a beautiful and shallow woman, who thought only about herself and her needs? He could have easily forgotten about her in an instant, like the dozens of other beautiful, vacuous women who had flitted in and out of his life over the past several years. Instead, she was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman: beautiful, intelligent, sensitive, compassionate…

Married… the voice in his head reminded him.

Right… No matter what, that was the one important thing he had to remember. She was married. It didn’t matter that she intended to get a divorce because intent and result were two entirely different things, and the former did not necessarily lead to the latter. There were a lot of factors that could come into play after she left here tonight, not the least of which might be her husband coming to his senses and asking for a reconciliation. After all, what sane man would want to cut her out of his life?

You do - remember? his stubborn heart goaded. Yeah, right… After tonight she was out of his life forever. Isn’t that what he’d promised himself earlier? Yes, and that was what he planned to do.

“You don’t have to repay me for anything,” Jax said. “I was just glad that I was in the right place at the right time to find you.”

It was fate, his heart shouted. Fate brought the two of you together, and you can’t just turn your back on that.

Rubbish! the voice in his head argued. Fate is simply a fanciful notion thought up by writers and romantics to give dramatic flair to their work. Fate doesn’t exist in the real world.

That was a depressing thought, but a much more realistic one, nonetheless, which is why it was the one he had to hold onto. He had to keep himself grounded, especially now. She was only in his life for a few more hours at the most; after tonight, she’d be no more than a pleasant memory, soon to be forgotten and replaced.

Forgotten and replaced? Who’s the one with the fanciful notions now? his heart challenged. She’s already here inside forever, and you know it.

This is bloody rubbish, and you know it! the voice in his head exploded. You’re Jasper Jacks, CFO of Jacks International, and a man both feared and revered worldwide for your business acumen and your personal aplomb. Nothing and no one shakes you - no one!

The voice was right - he couldn’t allow her to continue to rattle him like this. Which meant that he was going to have to get her to stop talking to him…

Or looking at him…

Or walking around like that…

Or simply just being… until this storm was over and she was gone from here and from his life for good.

He sighed. This was going to be a very long night…